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Cargill recalls 1 million lbs of beef possibly tainted by E. coli

(AP) - Cargill Inc. said Saturday it is recalling
more than 1 million pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated
with E. coli bacteria, the second time in less than a month it has
voluntarily recalled beef that may have been tainted.

No illnesses have been reported, said John Keating, president of
Cargill Regional Beef.

The agribusiness giant produced the beef between Oct. 8 and Oct.
11 at a plant in Wyalusing, Pa. and distributed it to retailers
across the country. They include Giant, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop,
Wegmans and Weis.

Cargill learned the meat may be contaminated after the
Agriculture Department found a problem with a sample of the beef
produced on Oct. 8, the company said. The bacteria is E. coli
O157:H7.

A spokeswoman for Cargill said 10 states are included in the
recall - Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

"We are working closely with the USDA to remove this product
from the marketplace," Keating said in a statement. Spokeswoman
Lori Fligge said the company had no further comment.

Amanda Eamich, a spokeswoman for the USDA Food and Safety
Inspection Service, said her agency will work with Cargill to track
the approximately 1,084,384 pounds of beef that could be
contaminated and remove it from store shelves.

"We do look in all directions to ensure that products that
could be contaminated are not available to consumers," Eamich
said.

On Oct. 6, Cargill voluntarily recalled more than 840,000 pounds
of ground beef patties distributed at Sam's Club stores nationwide
after four Minnesota children and four Wisconsin adults who ate the
food developed E. coli illness, which is the same strain that was
detected to prompt the latest recall.

A lawsuit is pending from that outbreak.

Eric and Jennifer Gustafson of Inver Grove Heights say their
4-year-old daughter, Callie, was hospitalized for about a week in
September with an E. coli infection and has been permanently
injured from the illness. Their 18-month-old son, Carson, also
became ill and is still recovering, the lawsuit said.

In late September, Topps recalled 21.7 million pounds of its
patties - the second-largest U.S. beef recall - and then closed its
business.

The USDA said later Saturday it will increase the testing and
re-inspection of poultry and meat imported from Canada.

"Effective next week, the FSIS will increase testing for
Salmonella, Listeria Monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 and will
require shipments be held until testing is complete and products
are confirmed negative for these pathogens," Dr. Richard Raymond,
the USDA under secretary for food safety, said.

He said the audit of the Canadian food safety system will focus
on Ranchers Beef, Ltd., which has shut down after being identified
as a likely source of the E. coli outbreak that led to the Topps
recall.

E. coli is harbored in the intestines of cattle. Improper
butchering and processing can cause the E. coli to get onto meat.
Thorough cooking, to at least 160 degrees internal temperature, can
destroy the bacteria.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause
bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and people
with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to E.
coli.

People with questions about the recall are asked to call Cargill
at 877-455-1034.

Cargill Meat Solutions, based in Wichita, Kan., is the umbrella
organization of Cargill's beef, pork and turkey businesses.

Cargill Inc., based in Wayzata, Minn., is one of the nation's
largest privately held companies. It makes food ingredients, moves
commodities around the world and runs financial commodities trading
businesses.